Stage 2: "We would have liked to win, but we are completely on track"

00:00:02: Inside Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe, the podcast from OVB online on The Tour de France.

00:00:09: For three weeks we accompanied team manager Ralf Denk and the biggest –and most successful German cycling-team through The Tour De France!

00:00:18: Do you have questions for Ralph Denk?

00:00:21: Send them to Tobias.woofovbmedia.de And now enjoy the new episode.

00:00:31: Isaac Del Toro wins the second stage of Tour de France.

00:00:35: Jonas Wingergaard narrowly keeps the yellow jersey.

00:00:38: Remco Evinepool takes third place for Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe and also moves up to third in general classification.

00:00:47: We are switching to Barcelona as every day, we're connected with team manager of Red Bull Bora Hansgrosch.

00:00:54: A warm welcome to Ralph Denk

00:00:57: And a warm hello back to Rosenheim.

00:00:59: Hello

00:01:01: Hello Ralf.

00:01:02: Short and sweet, what is your conclusion?

00:01:04: What's the team's conclusion?

00:01:06: Tough race.

00:01:08: Really tough race just as predicted yesterday with a lot of stress from that very first minute for the riders and great team performance.

00:01:18: so both our captains Ramco as well as Florian showed a great performance finished right up at front.

00:01:26: We make no secret of it.

00:01:27: we would have liked to win today with Remco as well.

00:01:30: This is his course that the final laps in Barcelona over The local mountain are not tailor-made for Florian, and we knew That beforehand.

00:01:38: In the end It just wasn't quite enough.

00:01:40: Remco finished third!

00:01:42: We Have To Take That And a Third Place at a Tour de France.

00:01:46: Well...that Is Not So Bad Either

00:01:49: It is not.

00:01:50: Ramco's making a very good impression, what do his numbers show?

00:01:54: Are they as good he looks from the

00:01:56: outside?".

00:01:57: Yes!

00:01:58: He also looked confident on three city laps here in Barcelona and I just spoke with him briefly afterwards.

00:02:08: Well, my boy was fine and now everything is good.

00:02:12: Very optimistic but Florian too.

00:02:14: here he lost a few seconds.

00:02:16: it was ten I think in total But there's an absolutely good mood And both are actually right on track.

00:02:25: There is a lot of talk now about those four kilos that Remco weighs less.

00:02:31: Take us through.

00:02:33: what does it mean, signify?

00:02:36: Those are always just numbers thrown around but you obviously have insight into all the data.

00:02:42: how something like this actually affects things?

00:02:45: Yes he's already very light and definitely lighter than in spring.

00:02:54: I would say ideal weight for the Tour de France.

00:02:58: But was it three, or four kilos?

00:03:01: We know but we don't want to reveal details now because these are personal rights which really shouldn't be carried out into a big white

00:03:08: world.".

00:03:10: Exactly!

00:03:11: Let's briefly touch on Florian again – he lost ten seconds.

00:03:16: It is not his terrain, that's no secret.

00:03:19: He himself had spoken in advance about expecting a certain loss of time.

00:03:25: Now it only ten seconds You hear my emphasis on ONLY.

00:03:30: Do you agree with me?

00:03:33: Yes absolutely And that is why he was in a good mood after the finish.

00:03:40: He did say it was a mega hard race and the heat wasn't easy for any of the riders, but he's still looking ahead positively!

00:03:49: It was only his second day.

00:03:50: we are right on track.

00:03:52: tomorrow We have longer climbs.

00:03:53: so... That is good.

00:03:55: You hinted at this?

00:03:56: Let us look at rest of team.

00:03:58: Yesterday there were slight criticism from you to do.

00:04:01: as I understood The team did their job.

00:04:05: I would say so, yes.

00:04:07: Unfortunately Maxim van Gils crashed at the beginning.

00:04:12: he would have actually been a candidate to shape the finale today but is bit bettered.

00:04:17: He lost some skin around his knee and was then bandaged by our doctors.

00:04:23: So...he did finish this stage.

00:04:27: Everything is fine so far but no one has ever improved during a stage because they crashed and that's why you did not see him in the finale today.

00:04:37: Okay, good!

00:04:39: We will of course keep an eye on it.

00:04:41: So Isaac del Toro has won.

00:04:44: Let us look at winning team.

00:04:46: Those were moving images The likes I have rarely seen at the Tour de France.

00:04:52: Del Toro is pulling ahead Pogacar.

00:04:55: correct me Ralph, but it seems like Pogaca is protecting his teammate.

00:05:02: Letting him win including a superb Brandon McNulty who played the solo entertainer for twenty kilometers It felt Like Was that show of force by UAE today overall?

00:05:16: Team UAE were very strong Today.

00:05:19: I absolutely agree with you.

00:05:21: The key point For Me was actually the Final Descent.

00:05:25: Matthias Gelmoser from Lidl Trek attacked at the top.

00:05:29: He managed to open a small gap and on the descent, Isaac Del Toro today's winner tried to close the gap.

00:05:37: for Tadej Pogacar.

00:05:38: he was in his slipstream but then The whole field stretched out And In last corner they took full risks and Remco hesitated.

00:05:51: That is why he lost the wheel and then had to try to get back on the wheel of Del Toro & Pocacar, on a seven hundred meter final climb.

00:06:04: And that naturally cost an incredible amount of energy!

00:06:07: So Remco was able deliver really great performance in his last seven hundred meters.

00:06:12: He even overtook Vingegard but it just wasn't enough for the win.

00:06:16: And the two UA riders, Pogacar and Del Toro made a best use of this massive speed advantage which is why they took one to finish.

00:06:24: Now both are in each other's arms after the finish.

00:06:28: First off all feeling it certainly not deceiving us we saw images.

00:06:33: Pogachar definitely let del Toro win

00:06:37: Definitely.

00:06:39: The two guys get along well, Del Toro is a bit younger.

00:06:42: he's being touted in the team as Pogacar's successor.

00:06:46: whether he can eventually fill those big shoes we will see but primarily there are good vibes between them.

00:06:54: yes if they don't put their win at risk with such moves and you can only congratulate them on their magnificent performance today

00:07:05: Bogacar also seems super happy.

00:07:07: I totally believe him too!

00:07:11: Well, tactically from his perspective it is certainly not unwise either... ...I do not want to imply anything but this way you also secure a loyalty within your own team.. ..from the most important helper when he goes into the absolute high mountains.

00:07:28: So somehow tactical But not artificial.

00:07:31: That's my impression.

00:07:33: What about yours?

00:07:34: No, it is all good.

00:07:37: You see cycling is a team sport and the fact that he did not win a stage today from his perspective for many riders winning at Tour de France Stage Is The Ultimate Dream.

00:07:49: They certainly wouldn't have given that away so easily but He already has many to his credit And That's why I find the gesture very cool and charming.

00:07:59: I'm also happy for the young Mexican del Toro that he wins his first Tour de France stage today.

00:08:07: The race tactics overall really played into his hands a bit, we saw in the first phase eighty kilometres-in that Pinarello took the lead.

00:08:18: they were mostly riding for Tom Pitcock.

00:08:22: i was a bit confused ,I mean normally the yellow jersey.

00:08:26: In this case, it would be Vismales a bike for Jonas Wingergott.

00:08:30: They are doing the chase work of the breakaway group.

00:08:33: UAE wanted to with Pogacar has now one with Del Toro and then it is Pinarello during the chasework.

00:08:40: did that surprise you?

00:08:41: It actually surprised me because Pitcock was very good rider but he wasn't top favorite today.

00:08:52: But on the other hand, it was also brave of his team.

00:08:56: They are riding the first two de France in their team history and took charge of things.

00:09:03: It didn't work out for them.

00:09:04: but just hiding for three weeks achieves nothing.

00:09:08: And that's why uh...it Was something that was at least noticed and a nice gesture from The Wildcard Team.

00:09:16: And apparently Pitcock is In good shape.

00:09:19: He seems to be planning something.

00:09:21: Do we need to look at the general classification or is it primarily about stage wins?

00:09:26: I mean, this guy is an Olympic mountain bike champion a magnificent descender.

00:09:31: he has already won on Alped US.

00:09:33: maybe give us a brief assessment of how you see it.

00:09:36: Yes and uh...he was third in last year's Fulta Espanja.

00:09:41: You shouldn't forget that!

00:09:42: He can ride grand tours he proved.

00:09:43: with his third place finish.

00:09:46: He is one minute behind Vingegard in the general classification Currently so everything still within reach for him too.

00:09:54: And as you say, he's an Olympic mountain bike champion.

00:09:57: Mountain biking is a very honest sport and mountain biking has also produced many good road cyclists In the past.

00:10:05: So not to have Pitcock on the radar would be naive.

00:10:09: Okay we will do that.

00:10:11: Now, let's look over to Romania and congratulate Red Bull Borahans Krohe on the win.

00:10:18: Lorenzo Finn – The nineteen-year old Italian from your team wins second stage at the Sibiu Tour mountain finish And also takes lead in general classification.

00:10:28: He is the under twenty three world champion Today his first professional win.

00:10:34: You should remember his name.

00:10:36: Take us through it.

00:10:38: What kind of rider he?

00:10:40: How pleased are you that this development, a huge topic for you.

00:10:44: You always say development... ...that his progress is clearly moving up the ladder in the right way?

00:10:51: Yes!

00:10:52: You mentioned healthy progression and also our approach.

00:10:56: with Lorenzo Finn He became under-nineteen world champion last year For the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe Rookies Under-twenty three World Champion.

00:11:08: He's the same age as Paul Setschers, but we are choosing a slightly gentler development for him.

00:11:14: That is why he still riding for The Rookies this year and will only join the World Tour with us next year.

00:11:20: But he won a mountain finish today in Romania.

00:11:23: It is not the biggest tour... ...but it is a professional tour!

00:11:26: The UAE team also competing there.

00:11:29: You always have to win a bike race first And he proved that Today among the pros.

00:11:37: And he certainly has a great future ahead of him, and our entire performance team has chosen the approach to building Lorenzo up more cautiously than the French team de Castelon is building up Paul Seckers.

00:11:52: Paul Seixas is the same age, but he's already riding the Tour de France here.

00:11:56: We decided on a different path.

00:11:58: Econa opinions differ in which paths are ultimately more sustainable and I am happy for now that Lorenzo makes progress seemingly every month.

00:12:13: Exactly!

00:12:14: And those who have been listening to Sibiu Tour, Romania, Florian Lipowitz... Something happened there too, so it is a tour where you can specifically build up that kind of athlete profile.

00:12:31: Yes I can even elaborate on that bit further.

00:12:34: Egan Bernal also won this Tour at the very young age and later the Tour de France.

00:12:39: Congratulations!

00:12:40: On this success.

00:12:41: congratulations off course Also on Remco's third place today.

00:12:46: So Ralf, I wanted to take a look behind the scenes with you today.

00:12:51: Given the late hour we will postpone that.

00:12:53: We still have stages ahead in this Tour de France.

00:12:56: There'll be good insights as usual because looking at tomorrow yes it won't be quiet.

00:13:04: Well...we can certainly say when our tour de France starts slowly and you ease your way into those days are over.

00:13:13: Yes, the organizer.

00:13:15: The ASO spoke out against it.

00:13:18: if they were up to them there would be no more sprint stages only stages like today's.

00:13:27: The riders see that a bit differently.

00:13:30: They also wish for few stages at least during three weeks to catch their breath.

00:13:34: but tomorrow is definitely not stage to catch your breath.

00:13:38: We are heading towards the Pyrenees.

00:13:41: The first mountain with category one is on the program, and for me there're two scenarios for tomorrow either after today's grueling day where it really about seconds.

00:13:51: in general classification There might be a first breakaway group that reaches the finish and decides to stage win among themselves or the general classifications riders who are virtually fighting for their Tour de France victory will also decide the stage wins amongst themselfs.

00:14:08: I hardly dare to commit, because it really does allow for these two scenarios.

00:14:14: Exactly!

00:14:15: It goes from Granolaes in Spain over to France.

00:14:18: Les Angles is the finish.

00:14:20: One hundred ninety six kilometers will be ridden.

00:14:22: three thousand eight hundred fifty meters of climbing four mountain classifications Three off the third category.

00:14:29: and you said after a good one hundred twenty kilometers a climb off the first category.

00:14:35: Any tactical considerations yet?

00:14:38: Or in the case like this, when you say it's hard to predict do you keep your options open and let the race unfold staying prepared for any scenario.

00:14:52: What is the approach there?

00:14:55: Yes, if it comes to that and a breakaway attack for the stage win is possible tomorrow then we first have to wait for discussions with our riders.

00:15:08: Seeing Florian or Remco in the breakaway group, well far too many teams are against that.

00:15:15: That means if they were to try ,they wouldn't get away.

00:15:19: The gap would be closed immediately by UAE and Wismar teams.

00:15:25: definitely!

00:15:28: If anything we'd have other riders who will be good enough for a breakaway group, for the stage win.

00:15:34: But I have to talk with them first.

00:15:35: or we had to talk about how was your day today?

00:15:39: How did you feel?

00:15:41: and only then can actually later in the evening determine some tactics for tomorrow?

00:15:48: Well that is definitely too early right now because we must arrive at our hotel.

00:15:53: Then there are individual talks of riders.

00:15:58: Only when you have, as I always say gained an overall overview then you can work on the tactics for tomorrow.

00:16:04: Exactly and we will see how it develops!

00:16:08: The stage starts at twelve ten.

00:16:11: a rival is expected around five o'clock.

00:16:14: Ralph with that i send best regards to Barcelona.

00:16:18: wish you everyone a pleasant evening.

00:16:21: thankyou We'll talk again tomorrow.

00:16:24: My pleasure and best regards, hello back to

00:16:48: Rosenheim.